'Colors of the Coast' an eclectic mix of Gulf Coast artwork from Cathedral Square Gallery

Wintzell's Oyster House Best of Show Award went to Nola Powell for her painting "Local Color," an acrylic on canvas, during the June 9 opening reception at Cathedral Square Gallery in downtown Mobile, Alabama. (Press-Register/John David Mercer)

MOBILE, Alabama --- The folks who run Cathedral Square Gallery feel they scored a triumph with the inaugural “Colors of the Coast” juried exhibit, on view through July 20 at the gallery on upper Dauphin Street.

The show features more than 60 works by 44 artists who live and work along the Gulf Coast. Juror Patti Adams of New Orleans selected 62 pieces from 88 works submitted in oil, acrylic, watercolor, drawing, encaustic, woodcut and photography.

“It was a great pleasure and privilege to judge this inaugural show,” Adams says in her juror’s statement. “It was a difficult process to choose from such a wealth of artistry, and I congratulate everyone for participating. “What you are doing, often times all alone and with little encouragement, is important. That you show up for the art — that is important.”

Adams, director of the Garden District Gallery, is an award-winning signature member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society. She studied art at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and has participated in invitational art shows in New Orleans and twice been awarded Best of Show for her work in oil painting.

Wintzell’s Oyster House Best of Show award went to Nola Powell for “Local Color,” an acrylic on canvas.

”This is a terrific oil painting using a difficult format, the narrow vertical,” Adams says in her statement. “It illustrates in one painting all the elements of the ‘Colors of the Coast’ — the light, the wildlife, the colorful water, valuable wetlands that protect our shores and the colors of the city as well. Nice, clean gallery wrap presentation and painting technique. Well done!”

COLORS of the COAST

WHAT: “Colors of the Coast” juried exhibit of Gulf Coast artists

WHEN: through July 20

WHERE: Cathedral Square Gallery, 612 Dauphin St., downtown Mobile

JUDGE: Patti Adams, director of the Garden District Gallery, New Orleans

The Cathedral Square Award was presented to Melissa Higdon for her watercolor, “The Path Edge.”

“A wonderful watercolor capturing the colorful ferns that grow everywhere in our humid climate,” Adams says. “Good complementary color contrast, composition and textural treatment of the paint. The lines of the composition are a treat for the eye. The simple silver frame and neutral white mat highlight the painting beautifully.”

Frances Ashcraft won the People’s Choice Award for her watercolor titled “Tuckered Out.”

“The body of work shows each artist’s personal connection and love for our coastal region,” says Linda Tenhundfeld, director of Cathedral Square Gallery. “It is exactly what we wanted to visually present to our community. The show has been well received and viewed by hundreds already.

During the June 9 opening reception and Artwalk the next day, visitors paused to admire the art.

“It was amazing to see the families and children spend a considerable length of time during the opening reception at Artwalk, viewing each piece so carefully to decide which one they liked best for the People’s Choice Award,” Tenhundfeld says. “This is what it is all about: spreading that love of the arts and supporting artists in our community.”

The juried exhibit was chaired by Judy Aronson and sponsored by Wintzell’s Oyster House.

Lynne Weeks' watercolor artwork, "Shrimp Trio," in the "Colors of the Coast" show at Cathedral Square Gallery. (Press-Register/John David Mercer)

The inspiration for “Colors of the Coast” grew out of meetings and conversations among the managers and members of Cathedral Square Gallery, who brainstormed ways to promote the arts in downtown Mobile, according to a CSG news release.

“We were also thinking of how we could get more people to know about the gallery scene,” the release states. “One of our goals has been to reach out through various means of advertising to all of the outlying areas (such as) Semmes, Theodore, Citronelle, Dauphin Island, Ocean Springs, Pensacola, Fairhope and Daphne, . . . especially during challenging economic times.

“We also wanted to emphasize the coast after the BP oil spill and help people see how beautiful the Gulf Coast is.”